NBPTS Exceptional Needs Specialist Practice Exam 2026 – Complete Prep Resource

Negative reinforcement is a concept in behavioral psychology that involves strengthening a behavior by removing an unfavorable condition or negative outcome. When an individual experiences discomfort or a negative stimulus, and a particular behavior leads to the removal of that discomfort, the frequency of that behavior will typically increase. This is because the behavior is reinforced through the relief provided by eliminating the undesirable condition.

For instance, if a child cleans their room to avoid being nagged by a parent, the removal of the nagging acts as a negative reinforcer that encourages the child to clean their room more often in the future.

The other options do not accurately define negative reinforcement. Adding a positive stimulus refers to positive reinforcement, while increasing undesirable behavior through punishment does not align with the principle of reinforcement as it focuses on suppressing undesired behaviors instead of promoting desired ones. Finally, providing a reward for good behavior is also associated with positive reinforcement.